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The Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018 is the 14th edition of the prestigious field hockey World Cup tournament and will take place from 28 November 2018 to 16 December 2018 at the iconic Kalinga Hockey Stadium in the city of Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the host nation Hockey India (HI) will be responsible for the organising of the biggest competition in Men’s Hockey. A total of 16 countries will be participating in the tournament, namely hosts India, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, England, Spain, Pakistan, New Zealand, France, China, South Africa, Malaysia, Canada and Ireland.
The opening ceremony was star studded and glitzy affair with Bollywood power on show. The event started with Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik declaring the World Cup open with all the 16 captains on stage.
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan greeted the huge crowd and the skippers on stage. King Khan then finished it off with his iconic dialogue from his film ‘ Chak de India’. Madhuri Dixit mesmerised all with her earth themed show.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent in his good wishes to the tournament in his tweet
A warm welcome and best wishes to all teams participating in the Hockey Men’s World Cup 2018, being held in Odisha. I am sure this tournament will be a treat for sports lovers and will also be an opportunity to discover India’s and especially Odisha’s culture. @FIH_Hockey
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 27, 2018
After leaving everybody spellbound with his soulful music, @arrahman‘s ‘Jai Hind India’, the Official Anthem which he has composed for the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018 marks the end of the Opening Ceremony.#IndiaKaGame #HWCOpeningCeremony #HWC2018 #DilHockey
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) November 27, 2018
